Beyond the Baseline with Thomas Spratt | Oct. 10

• TWEET
• SHARE
• SHARE

Welcome to the first edition of Beyond the Baseline, where men's tennis sophomore Thomas Spratt talks about his experience at Penn. In his first post, he talks about why he chose Penn and how he has balanced school and tennis now that he's here. 

In the fall of my freshman year of high school, I decided to abandon the electricity of Friday night basketball games for the more solitary world of tennis.

As scheduling conflicts exacerbated, I needed to focus on one sport to foster my collegiate aspirations. Keeping both recruiting processes in mind, I figured tennis would allow me to emerge on the national scene into the scopes of the top universities.

While junior tennis lacks the camaraderie that drives basketball, the individuality maximizes your potential to distinguish yourself from the competition. Despite my passion for team athletics, I sacrificed those experiences and began working towards college earlier than most.

As mass recruiting emails from smaller universities trickled into my mailbox, I compiled a list of more than thirty potential schools to contact; ironically, Penn wasn't included in my original list. There were other Ivy League schools in my sights, but I hadn't considered joining the Quakers until I received an unexpected phone call from head coach David Geatz.

While there were a myriad of factors in my college decision, I was only positive about the location: I wanted to leave the South for a northern city to gain more cultural diversity. Once I completed my ambitious list, I fired off an array of emails in hopes of receiving mutual interest.

Prior to committing to Penn, I narrowed my selection and organized official visits with a final group of schools. Though these schools offered various advantages, coupled with their respective disadvantages, I ultimately decided Penn would grant me the ideal blend between academic rigor and athletic intensity.

Thankfully, concluding my college search early in my senior year allowed me to enjoy my last months of school, rather than stressing about college applications. However, while my athletic success contributed to my Penn acceptance, our schedules as student-athletes are more hectic than most of us would prefer.

Being on the tennis team has been a phenomenal experience, but as with most benefits, certain drawbacks manifest as well. Instead of enjoying scheduling flexibility for spontaneous weekday events or weekend trips, our schedules are interwoven with practice times and tournament dates. Early rising and midnight studying become routine as we juggle Ivy League academics with Division I athletics. Simple tasks such as walking around campus become arduous after lengthy daily workouts and practice sessions. Furthermore, finding time to eat seems to evade you as the day unfolds.

On a typical Wednesday, I begin with two hours of class from nine to 11. After a one hour intermission, class resumes for a couple hours before our two hour practice, which is followed by an hour lift. As soon as the lift ends, when I'm ready for a Wawa care-package or a comfortable spot to pass out, I must run home before my hour and a half lecture at 5:30. Some nights we'll be expected to attend athletic conferences after class ends. This schedule isn't unique to the tennis team, as all of us student-athletes must balance our various responsibilities.

This regimented schedule would be unbearable if it weren't for my teammates and coaching staff. I've been blessed to be a part of a tremendous program here in Philadelphia. When I was a recruit in high school, my parents and advisors stressed the importance of evaluating the quality of future teammates and coaches.

Over the course of my freshman year, my teammates became brothers and my coach continued to drive me towards success. As student-athletes, lofty expectations define our lives, but we are acquiring distinct skills that will ensure future success long after our athletic days.